An open letter to Javier Mascherano

Dear Javier,

I still remember clearly when the word came out that Liverpool were signing you on loan, it was in February 2007 right before the Champions league clash against Barcelona.

You had arrived at West Ham the previous Summer together with your friend Carlos Tevez, while the press were all focused on Tevez you were left languishing in the West Ham reserves. Rafa Benitez rescued you, bringing you to Liverpool and soon after you become a permanent fixture in the Liverpool lineup, your International exposure quickly grew.

On the 29th of February 2008 you put pen to paper and signed a four year contract with Liverpool, a contract that bound you with Liverpool F.C., a contract that paid you a salary fit for a world class professional football player. You were a regular starter at Liverpool and were playing in the top E.P.L. and Champions League games, you had become an International star.

The Kop started singing your name while many kids saved their pocket money and bought Liverpool shirts with your name on the back. The Monster Masch was in full effect and we were happy to support you all the way. You saw red against Manchester United and you saw red against Everton but we supported even louder.

Diego Maradona  even made you captain of Argentina and some like me went as far as supporting Argentina just because of you. We stood by you during the difficult qualifiers and then were gutted for you when Argentina was trashed by Germany in the World Cup quarter finals.

The last summer transfer window was full of ups and downs and many of us Reds had conceded that we would be losing you as it was widely reported that you wanted to leave. Of course we were disappointed to lose you, but after your brilliant performance against Arsenal we all stood up and cheered you on. Javier you would have left Liverpool a hero but for whatever reason you missed the Manchester City game, a game that we lost 3-0.  I strongly believe that your behaviour upset your team-mates and the preparations for that game, quite honesty we probably lost that game because of your antics.

And then to rub salt in our wounds you go out and claim that moving to Barcelona has been a dream move and then you go further by attacking the club for what you say are lies said to the press.

Maybe Rafa or Roy upset you, maybe Tom Hicks and George Gillett did too but what have the Liverpool Supporters and your team-mates done to deserve this?

All we did was support you 100% and this is how you pay-us back?

Gracias por nada.

-Antoine
antoine@empireofthekop.com

The Daily Antoine 22/8/2010 LFC News Digest

PSV’s chief has restated that Ola Toivonen is not for sale more…
(Bummer)

However right away now they link us again with Trazeguet more…
(Oh Boy!)

Aquilani joins Juventus on loan more…
(So he now joins Poulsen, Sissoko and Rush as players who played for both clubs)

Ngoo scores a double as the U18s tie Aston Villa more..
(YNWA)

Rafa’s Inter won the Italian Super cup more…
(Congrats)

David Silva fears Torres more…
(He knows him)

Christian Poulsen talks about Manchester City and their lack of history more…
(Love the lad :-) )

Roy backs Cole more…
(Y.N.W.A.)

The Daily Mail never gives up do they? They still claim Kuyt is moving to Inter more…
(OK Let me start a rumour, Rupert Murdoch is going to buy the Daily Mail)

More talk of Bryan Ruiz now more…
(Humm)

And Barca after Masch again more…
(I thought that they didn’t have any moeny)

And here is a new player we are linked with, Inter’s Victor Obinna more…
(But this is based on some deal involving Kuyt, it will not happen)

The Daily Antoine 13/8/2010 LFC News Digest

Happy Friday the 13th, the last time we had a Friday the 13th in August was 6 years ago.
Michael Owen left Liverpool that day looking for a bigger club, he is still looking.

Poulsen claims that he has alot to prove more…
(YNWA)

The Great Dane is ready to make an early start more…
(Sunday? :-) )

Hicks & Gillett could face a £20 million penalty from the bank if the club is not sold by the end of August more…
(We will end up paying that, the transfer money from Mascherano probably)

And this report claims that Tom Hicks kept his investment in Liverpool separate from his other holdings to protect himself should Liverpool fail more…
(Disgusting)

Reports from Spain suggest that Barca & LFC have reached  a deal for Masch, Cash + Hleb more…
(That will not be bad)

Stevie G is pumped up and ready to build on the England win more…
(YNWA Stevie, lets do it)

The skipper however feels that the England u-turn can take time more…
(As long as the Liverpool u-turn doesn’t we are ok)

Danny Wilson believes that his move to Liverpool will progress his game more…
(YNWA)

Gera plays down Reds link more…
(Humm)

Boro have denied Brad Jones exit reports more…
(Why is every signing like that? up and down, back and forth)

Fabergas and Van Persie might not feature on Sunday more…
(Well, we are without Torres so that should even things out a little)

But Pepe Reina is set to start more…
(Pintame! :-) )

According to a report the club has told the Spanish clubs to forget Pacheco more…
(Excellent)

Jonjo & Sterling have been called up for England U19 more…
(YNWA)

And the Liverpool youngsters win big in Ireland more…
(YNWA)

More talks of Lukaku more…
(I don’t think we can compete with Chelsea)

Jamie Redknapp claims that Gerrard kept Rafa in his job more…
(That is a ridiculous statement)

And Bruce takes a swipe at Rafa more…
(Rafa left 2 months ago, he needs to get a grip. If you want to keep attacking Rafa then go to AC Milan, can that big head fit in the San Siro?)

Fergie fears that Man Utd will not finish in the top four more…
(Welcome to the club)

Here are the EPL kits more…
(Everton’s away is so Pink)

The Daily Antoine 31/5/2010 LFC News Digest

Disturbing comment from Martin Broughton regarding Torres more…
(I never trusted Broughton)

Wisdom scores as England’s U17 are crowned Champions of Europe more…
(Liverpool = Europe so will Andre lift #6, #7 & #8)

The club has rejected a 4 million bid for Yossi more…
(I have a feeling that Yossi might be leaving us)

Barca look set to give up on Masch more…
(Excellent)

McMahon encouraged by Ince progression more…
(What do you expect? He is the son of the Gov’nor)

Carra also hails Capello more…
(Carra is a legend)

Masch warns his Argentinian team mates about the World Cup more…
(Masch is a legend)

Martin Skrtel in the meantime will blog his World Cup adventure more…
(We will be watching)

Rangers want more money for Danny Wilson more…
(But we don’t have any)

And finally a group of Liverpool & Juve fans played a game to remember Heysel more…
(Memoria e amicizia)

Tweet of the Day
I have now counted 26 players that are or were “linked” with Liverpool, insane.

The Daily Antoine 20/5/2010 LFC News Digest

Barcelona have signed David Villa for 40 million Euros more…
(So Nando will not be going to Barca)

Looks like Man Utd lost to Barca in the bid for Villa more…
(Why would they need Villa when they have strikers like Berbatov and Owen?)

While on the subject of United, their Red Knights bid is poised to fail because of internal wrangling more…
(This is exactly why we need to united behind SOS, it is our only hope)

And Rafa reveals why Liverpool will not sell Torres more…
(True, if the club sells Torres the club would lose a lot of revenue, worse than not being in the Champions League)

Barca however are set to launch a bid for Torres more…
(I do not think it will happen especially after hearing what Rafa had to say)

Carra though sends a strong warning to all the unsettled Reds more…
(Cool it there Jamie, you are starting to sound like Don Fabio :-) )

Del Neri is the new Juventus manager more…
(Look Mamma no Rafa :-) )

A new iPhone App will soon be launched by the club more…
(Istanbul Glory! I am intrigued)

And according to this we are competing with Everton for the signature of Belgian ace Vertonghen more…
(We are being linked with more players this year than we ever did and we do not even have money)

And these guys are claiming that Rafa will stay at Liverpool because no one wants him more…
(What BS, there are many clubs that want Rafa)

Babel is worried over his World Cup spot more…
(He will make it)

Maxi is going to the World Cup more…
(Congrats, YNWA)

Albert Riera launches a fresh attack on Rafa more…
(oh boy)

And talks about the Gaffer wanting to trade Riera for Mata more…
(Not sure if it holds water but I like the story)

And there is talk of trading Aquilani for Melo with Juventus more…
(Comes from Tuttosport, not a trustworthy source)

The reserves will be taking part in a tournament in Dortmund more…
(Bayern Munich and AC Milan await, nice)

Mikel San Jose has joined Atletico Bilbao more…
(Good luck)

However we grabbed another youngster; 14 year old Callum Pilkington from Bradford City more…
(Excellent)

Everton are chasing Cisse more…
(Why? Don’t they have enough players with weird hairdos?)

And fellow Istanbul hero Didi Hamann might come out of retirement to play for MK Dons more…
(Good luck)

Rafa regrets winning the Champions League in his first season more…
(It did set high expections)

And finally Rafa dreams of managing the Spanish national team in the future more…
(In another 20 years please :-) )

Tweet of the Day
Well there you have it; Thanks to all the women in Asia crazy about Torres, the club will not sell him :-)